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BATENED JAN. 19, 1904.

R. UPHAM. v SHEATHING FOR VESSELS Arrmqn'lon nun APR. 4, 1903.

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INVENTOR- S E S S CL N H W Y F. N on 0 Tll T A THE Norms PETERS co.PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

RICHARD 1). UPHAM, or NEW YORK, N.- Y.

SHEATHING FOR VESSELS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.749,909, dated January 19, 1904. I Application filed April 4, 1903-Serial No. 151,015. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD DANA UPI-1AM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheathing for Vessels,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sheathing and sheathing-plates for iron,steel, and wooden ships to protect the ship from accumulations of marinegrowths and the like. In Letters Patent No. 561,296, granted to me June2,1896, a sheathing composition consisting of a plastic compound ofasphaltum or other bituminous materials and comminuted metal, preferablycopper, is described and claimed. This composition is therein describedas applied while hot to the surface of the vessel with a trowel, thensmoothed down, and afterward when cold polished.

It is found that in some cases the method necessarily employed with theabove composition cannot be satisfactorily applied and that for generaluse it is preferable to employ the sheathing composition in the form offlexible plates, as will hereinafter be described.

' To this end the present invention is embodied in a flexible plateconsisting of a thin and flexible backing-sheet, preferably roughened orperforated, and a composition of a plastic bituminous substancesuch asasphaltum or asphaltum cement, for example, mixed with comminuted orfinely-divided metal such as copper, for example. The backingsheet isfirst coated with paint, or hot tar by preference, and the compositionapplied hot, The compound plate is then passed between rolls to compressor compact the plastic composition and unite it firmly to thebackingsheet and also to gage it to a uniform thickness, and after thecomposition is thus finished its surface is polished.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustratean embodiment ofthe invention, Figure 1 is a face view of the rectangular finishedplate. Fig. 2is a cross-section of the plate on an exaggerated scale.Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing simply plainperforations in the backing-sheet. Fig. 4 1s a similar cross-section toFigs. 2 and 3,

but illustrating another means for roughening the metal backingsheet, soas to cause the plastic composition to adhere thereto.

In the views, 1 designates a thin backingsheet, preferably of toughmetal, such as an-' nealed sheet-iron, and 2 designates the compositionof bituminous material and comminuted metal. The sheet 1, as shown inFig. 2, is perforated, as seen at 3, and the margins of the perforationsturned up in such a manner as to roughen the outer surface of the plate.This roughening, together with the perforations themselves, forms pointsof attachment uniformly distributed over the surface of the sheet forthe attachment of the plastic material 2. Fig. 3 shows only plainperforations as a retaining means for the composition.

"Obviously the backing-sheet may be provided with suitable points ofattachment or roughening by other means than that described withreference to Figs. 2 and 3. For example, bits of the backing may bepartly detached from the sheet and bent or struck up, as at 3 in Fig.4:, so that the plastic composition may take under or behind them.

Previously to applying the plastic material 2 to the backing-sheet 1 thelatter will have, by preference, a coat of paint, hot coal-tar, hotpitch, or the like applied to it to better insure the complete adhesionof the plastic material to the sheet at all points. It is important thata perfect junction between the backing and the composition be effectedat all points over the surface of the plate.

The rolling of the plate after the composition has cooled effects, asbefore stated, a uniform gaging of the plates as to thickness, a

uniform compression of the plastic material, and the surfacing of thelatter.

Any tough pliable material may be employed for the backing-sheet; butiron-say of No. 28 gageis preferred for various reasons. The sheathingwill be, by preference, formed into rectangular plates, thirteen bytwenty-six iffches being a convenient proportion and size; but theinvention is'not restricted to the size and contour of the plates. Therolling is effected after the applied composition has solidified, andthe thickness of the plate, including the backing, will be, preferably,about lJlU'tT-SlXtPOHtllS of an inch. In polishing the surface of theplate the fllm of asphalt is removed, leaving particles of copper bareas to their outer faces.

If asphaltum and comminuted copper be employed in the composition, aproportion which will produce a good product may consist of seventy-fivepounds of copper filings or particles to thirty pounds of asphalticcement, this latter being composed of pure asphalt, forty-three pounds;flux, seven pounds, and pulverized silica, fifty pounds. This asphalticcement and the finely divided copper are brought together, heated, andthoroughly mixed. The copper is chosen because of its possessingantifouling properties. However, the invention is not limited strictlyin respect of proportions of ingredients of the composition nor to theparticular ingredients, except that the latter shall consist ofcomminuted metal and a waterproof flexible insulating material, asbitumen, the latter being either alone or mixed with other suitablematerial. As equivalents finely-divided brass or aluminium and coal-tarpitch may be mentioned. Not less than fifteen per cent. of the metalshould a be used to get good results.

The plates constructed as above may be applied to the vessel by firstcovering the surface thereof with a coating of hot asphalt or othersimilar tenacious and waterproof substance and then applying the platesand screwing them fast. The heads of the screws should be countersunkand covered with the asphalt and metal compound, and the joints betweenthe plates should also be carefully closed by the same.

The present invention is not limited to any special or intentionalroughening of the backing, as in some cases the material used for thebacking may not require it. The primary painting or coating of thebacking, as indicated by the black line at 4 in the sectional views, maynot in all cases be necessary, and the invention is not limited thereto.The facing compound 2 will have, in combination with the finely-dividedmetal, a flexible insulating substance to separate electrically themetallic particles; but this substance or compound of substances mayvary as to its character or constitution, the bituminous substancesmentioned serving the purpose very well.

As will be obvious, a sheathing-plate for vessels composed of a flexiblebacking faced with a composition of copper and asphaltum or othersuitable insulating material may be safely applied to iron or steelships without danger of causing injurious galvanic action, because eachparticle of copper in the facing composition or wearing-surface of theplate, even the most minute, is insulated electrically from every otherparticle, as well as from the iron or steel beneath. Moreover, as thesurface exposed to the water is worn away by at trition new surfaces areexposed, in which every particle of copper is insulated as before, andno amount of wear or damage caused by abrasion of the surface, even ifsome of the plates are torn off, can set up gah anic action upon thehull of the vessel. The sheathing is applicable, of course, for theprotection of any submerged surface liable to fouling.

By the term flexible as herein used in describing the backing-sheet andthe completed sheathing-plate is meant capability of flexure to anyreasonable extent without cracking or injury, and not merely beingcapable of bending to a slight extent, and it is meant to exclude metalplates coated with a vitreous enamel. The sheathing-plate embodying thisinvention is not affected by expansion and contraction under varyingtemperatures, and the composition will not crack under such influencesand expose the backing. It is also easily cut to proper size and contourwithout the use of special tools.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- 1. A sheathing for vesselsand the like, comprising abacking of flexible and tough sheet material,and a flexible facing compound on said backing and attached thereto,said compound consisting of a suitable insulating substance, andcomminuted metal, intimately mixed and compressed, substantially as setforth.

2. A sheathing-plate for vessels and the like. comprising a roughenedbacking-sheet of flexible, tough material, and a flexible facingcompound attached thereto and composed in the main of comminuted or lineparticles of copper and a suitable insulating substance, intimatelymixed and compressed, substantially as forth.

A sheathing-plate for vessels and the like, comprising a flexible sheetof metal, roughened on its outer surface, and a facing composed offinely comminuted or divided metal intimately mixed with a suitableinsulating substance, said flexible facing being attached to thebacking, compressed, and of substantially uniform thickness, as setforth.

4:. A sheathing-plate for vessels and the like, comprising a tough,flexible perforated and roughened metal sheet and a facing on said sheetof bituminous material and comminuted copper, thoroughly mixed andcompressed on the sheet.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 2d day of April,1902), in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD l). UPI-1AM.

\Vitnesses:

PETER A. Boss, \VILLIAM J. 'Fnrrir.

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